On Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the Edo State Government, through a press statement signed by Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor, announced a ban on all state revenue collectors operating under various guises.
The reason given was their involvement in illegal collections, acts that are at variance with their rules of engagement. Instead of adhering to the approved cashless system, they had resorted to cash collections, extortion, harassment, and intimidation of drivers, traders, and other road users in the name of revenue enforcement.
The statement specifically named the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), ANNEWAT, Drivers on Wheel, and Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd, a private consultant previously contracted to enforce compliance. These entities had been granted limited authorization to collaborate with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) under clearly defined terms.
However, the government revealed that Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd and its workers had become complicit in widespread extortion and abuse of mandate. Such conduct, it said, amounts to economic sabotage, social oppression, and a direct affront to law and order.
Barely 24 hours after the announcement, the Edo State Task Force apprehended over 10 persons for illegally collecting levies from traders, drivers, and market women, in defiance of the ban.
The decisive action by the state government is commendable and long overdue. For years, Edo residents have endured harassment and intimidation from illegal revenue collectors, many operating under the cover of unions or consultancy contracts. That the government followed its announcement with swift enforcement demonstrates a rare political will to restore order.
The involvement of officially accredited organizations in such illegal practices is a betrayal of public trust. These groups were given permission to assist the EIRS under a transparent, cashless framework. Instead, they reverted to extortionist tactics that have long angered the public.
The arrests underscore the depth of this menace. This is not an isolated case, but a symptom of an entrenched exploitation network sustained by weak enforcement, public silence, and sometimes political protection. It is encouraging that Governor Monday Okpebholo is taking steps to dismantle these rackets.
Importantly, the Edo State Police Command has now pledged full support for the crackdown, vowing strict enforcement of the ban. The ten suspects already arrested by the Special Task Force have been handed over to the Police for investigation and prosecution, a clear sign that law enforcement is prepared to act decisively.
Yet, the fight must not end with one announcement and a few arrests. Illegal revenue collection is rooted in systemic decay. The government must prosecute offenders, blacklist guilty firms and unions, and publish their names as a deterrent. Without sustained enforcement, the same elements will reappear in new forms, undermining the administration’s credibility.
Public cooperation is also crucial. Citizens must refuse to pay unauthorized levies and report offenders without fear. The Governor has provided a channel through the Special Task Force. This task force should be empowered, well-funded, and its activities publicized to maintain public trust.
In the long term, Edo must embrace technology-driven, cashless revenue systems to eliminate opportunities for extortion. Every transaction should be traceable, ensuring transparency and accountability. Revenue collection must never again be left in the hands of thugs posing as union enforcers.
Governor Okpebholo’s decisive move has opened a rare window to reform Edo’s revenue system and restore sanity to its streets. The real test will be sustaining the fight, with the Police as committed partners until illegal revenue collection is truly history.
The administration should now set measurable timelines, issue periodic public progress reports, and make this reform a standing item in state security briefings. Only transparency, accountability, and consistent follow-up will ensure this crackdown becomes a lasting victory for Edo people.